With the PowerBall and PowerBall Plus jackpot for this weekend now surpassing the R100 million mark, the big question remains: is it better to trust pure luck, or follow the numbers?
The PowerBall jackpot is estimated at R37 million for Friday 17 April, while the PowerBall Plus has rolled over to a guaranteed R68 million.
A new report from Casino.org has now analysed historical South African lottery draw data to uncover the nation’s “hot” and “cold” numbers.
By examining long-term frequency trends, the report highlights which numbers have appeared most often (and which have lagged behind) offering a fresh perspective on how players engage with the game.
Most Frequently Drawn Lottery Numbers in South Africa’s Powerball
Exploring Potential Ticket Strategies
Although each lottery draw is independent, historical data can shape how some players choose their numbers. Based on the findings, two common approaches emerge:
1. The “Frequency-Based” Approach
For players drawn to data trends, one strategy is to focus on the most frequently drawn numbers over time — the so-called “hot” numbers:
- The Numbers: 15 – 24 – 20 – 13 – 31
- The Context: Number 15 leads the pack with 210 appearances, followed by 24 (200) and 20 (199). These numbers have consistently appeared more often than others, making them stand out in the dataset.
2. The “High-Number Spread” Approach
Many players tend to choose numbers between 1 and 31, often based on birthdays. This creates an opportunity to explore higher numbers that may be selected less frequently by other players:
- The Numbers: 35 – 43 – 42 – 40 – 28
- The Context: These numbers all show strong historical performance, with several appearing close to or above 185 times. As they sit outside typical “birthday picks,” they may offer a way to avoid splitting jackpots with multiple winners.
Observations on the “Cold” Numbers
At the other end of the spectrum, the data highlights numbers that have appeared less frequently over time. While they hold the same odds in any given draw, their historical presence is notably lower:
- Number 47: The least frequent, with 76 appearances
- Number 50: Appearing 83 times
- Number 46: Appearing 85 times
- Number 48: Appearing 86 times
- Number 49: Appearing 96 times
The table below show the hottest and coldest numbers by draw frequency (2009–2026):
| No. | Frequency of Number Drawn |
| 15 | 210 |
| 24 | 200 |
| 20 | 199 |
| 13 | 197 |
| 31 | 196 |
| 43 | 192 |
| 35 | 192 |
| 12 | 191 |
| 22 | 188 |
| 18 | 188 |
| 9 | 187 |
| 3 | 187 |
| 42 | 186 |
| 40 | 186 |
| 28 | 186 |
| 36 | 185 |
| 21 | 185 |
| 11 | 185 |
| 41 | 183 |
| 10 | 183 |
| 8 | 183 |
| 16 | 182 |
| 37 | 181 |
| 19 | 181 |
| 38 | 179 |
| 34 | 178 |
| 7 | 178 |
| 29 | 177 |
| 5 | 177 |
| 44 | 175 |
| 32 | 175 |
| 23 | 175 |
| 4 | 175 |
| 17 | 173 |
| 6 | 173 |
| 1 | 173 |
| 26 | 171 |
| 45 | 170 |
| 30 | 168 |
| 39 | 165 |
| 14 | 165 |
| 2 | 165 |
| 25 | 164 |
| 33 | 159 |
| 27 | 156 |
| 49 | 96 |
| 48 | 86 |
| 46 | 85 |
| 50 | 83 |
| 47 | 76 |
Probability vs Luck
While number 15 has appeared nearly three times as often as number 47, the core principle of the lottery remains unchanged: every draw is random.
These trends offer an engaging way to explore the history of South Africa’s Powerball, but they do not influence future outcomes. Whether selecting “hot,” “cold,” or completely random numbers, each combination has the same chance of being drawn.
The table below show the hottest and coldest Powerball numbers by draw frequency (2009–2026):
| No. | Frequency of Powerball Drawn |
| 18 | 104 |
| 3 | 95 |
| 13 | 94 |
| 16 | 94 |
| 12 | 92 |
| 2 | 91 |
| 15 | 89 |
| 17 | 89 |
| 5 | 88 |
| 4 | 87 |
| 10 | 86 |
| 7 | 85 |
| 11 | 82 |
| 6 | 80 |
| 9 | 80 |
| 20 | 78 |
| 19 | 77 |
| 1 | 76 |
| 14 | 72 |
| 8 | 71 |
